Mar 10, 2025

Conservation

Conservation

13 min

13 min

The Case for Coexistence: A Brief History of Conservation in Africa

written by

Liam Furniss

Africa's colonial-era conservation model risks continued environmental degradation by excluding indigenous knowledge and community participation.

Africa's colonial-era conservation model risks continued environmental degradation by excluding indigenous knowledge and community participation.

Africa's colonial-era conservation model risks continued environmental degradation by excluding indigenous knowledge and community participation.

article transcript

article transcript

article transcript

article transcript

article transcript

Summary

This piece explores the evolution of conservation in Africa, from colonial-era "fortress" models to modern holistic approaches. The author traces how early European ideals of the "picturesque" - separating humans from nature - created lasting challenges in wildlife protection. Despite Africa housing a quarter of Earth's biodiversity, traditional conservation methods often excluded local communities, leading to ongoing conflicts. Now, there's a growing recognition that indigenous knowledge and community involvement are crucial for effective conservation. Through models emphasizing coexistence and local participation, Africa is rediscovering ancient wisdom: humans and nature thrive best together, not apart.